Talamancans

Middle America and the Caribbeanother subsistence combinations

Map
expand_more Description

At the time of European conquest, there were numerous Indian groups present in the Talamanca mountain range and surrounding coastal plains of southern Costa Rica and western Panama. Pursuing notably divergent strategies for cultural survival over the centuries, four of the Chibchan-speaking groups remain: the Boruca, Bribri and Cabécar (many on reservations in Costa Rica) and the Teribe (largely in Panama). Traditional subsistence was based on agriculture, supplemented by hunting and river fishing, but Talamancans are now largely integrated into their national economies, with fewer individuals dependent upon a rapidly diminishing supply of available land. Although some work in national government, or for national and international Indian advocacy agencies, self-government within communities is informal, with the opinions of elders and shamans respected.

Identifier
Region
  • Middle America and the Caribbean
Subregion
  • Central America
Subsistence Type
  • other subsistence combinations
Samples
Countries
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama
External Links